A 56-year-old man died at his home in Macroom, Co Cork, last year after he received five or six wasp stings as he picked up hedge clippings to the rear of his property, an inquest has heard.
Michael 'Mick' Sheehan, who was originally from Ballinlough in Cork city, was pronounced dead at 2.16pm on 5 November 2024 at his home in Glen Tanar, Carriganine in Macroom.
His wife, Carmel Sheehan, told an inquest at Macroom Court that at around 12pm on 5 November her husband was on the phone in his study.
Shortly afterwards, she said he told her that he was going out to help two men who were cutting the hedge at his property.
After a short period, she added he came back into their home and said he was "after getting stung by a wasp".
Ms Sheehan said her husband was not showing any ill effects at this point and that there was no obvious cause for concern.
Ms Sheehan realised that there was no over-the-counter allergy medication in the family medicine cabinet.
She then decided to make the short journey to the local chemist to pick up the allergy medication, Zirtek.
When Ms Sheehan returned to the property, she said she found her husband "face down on the kitchen floor".
She said she ran out to the back of house to the two men who were working in the garden, adding they all rushed into the house.
"I (then) saw John (the gardener) trying to get Mick to respond. He was sitting Mick up and slapping his face," she said.
No history of allergies
Ms Sheehan called an ambulance. The emergency services were alerted and the Irish Community Air Ambulance from Rathcoole landed in the nearby golf club.
Ms Sheehan said when she knew the air ambulance was coming, she rushed to try to show the medics the shortcut to her house.
When she arrived back to the house, a first responder told her that if she had prayers to say it was probably the appropriate time to start them.
She said that sometime after 2pm consultant in emergency medicine Dr Jason van der Velde informed her that her husband had passed away.
A local priest was contacted and prayers were said in the kitchen before Mr Sheehan's body was removed to the morgue at Cork University Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Ms Sheehan told Coroner Frank O'Connell that her husband was "absolutely fine" when she left to go to the chemist. She made it to and from the local pharmacy in a handful of minutes.
She said that before she left her husband was understandably a little "agitated", however, there was nothing to suggest what would later happen.
Ms Sheehan said her husband had no history of allergies.
A statement was read into evidence from gardener John White.
Mr White said when he and the other gardener entered the house, they found Mr Sheehan lying on his side in the kitchen and they then commenced CPR.
Mr White said a female first responder took over CPR upon her arrival and a defibrillator was also used by medics at the scene.
Garda Don Coomey also gave evidence of going to the Sheehan home after he was informed of Mr Sheehan's death.
He noted there was a small number of wasps in a nest outside in the back of the property.
'Most unfortunate' death - coroner
Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster gave evidence on behalf of another pathologist, who had carried out the post-mortem examination on Mr Sheehan.
She said that suffered around five to six wasp stings on his head, back and arms.
Very high levels of tryptase were recorded, Dr Bolster said. Elevated levels of tryptase can be a marker for severe anaphylactic reactions, including those triggered by insect stings.
She told members of the family that Mr Sheehan suffered a swelling of the larynx, which obstructed his breathing causing him to "collapse very suddenly".
Dr Bolster said that he suffered a massive allergic reaction. She told the family that she did not think that "anything could have been done" to change the outcome.
The coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.
The coroner said it was "most unfortunate" that Mr Sheehan died when he was "innocently picking up hedge clippings".
Mr O'Connell said he had met him about a decade ago in a work capacity and found him to be a "pleasure to deal with".
He offered his condolences to the Sheehan family on the loss of a much-loved father and husband.
He described Mr Sheehan as a "noted expert" in the tax field.
Inspector Mary Skehan also offered her condolences to Ms Sheehan and the couple’s adult children Conor, Katie and Aine, as well as the extended family.
Mr Sheehan retired a year prior to his death and was remembered by colleagues as a "thorough gentleman" with a "quick wit". He was also a devoted family man.
Speaking after the inquest, family members urged the public to be aware of possible side effects of insect stings.
They said that people who know that they have an allergic reaction to wasp or bee stings should consider investing in EpiPens.
